On May 16, 2019, the Sulzbacher Beaches Health Center, a healthcare facility operated in Jacksonville Beach by Sulzbacher, honored Jacksonville City Councilman Bill Gulliford with the “2019 Beaches Healthy Hero” award. The award was presented as part of Fiesta on the Beach, a fundraising event on behalf of the Sulzbacher Beaches Health Center.
In 2011, the Sulzbacher Beaches Health Center Healthy Hero Award was created to annually honor and recognize individuals, organizations or agencies that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to improving the health and well-being of the Beaches community. Through their commitment to the Sulzbacher Beaches Health Center, Beaches Healthy Heroes tirelessly give of their time, talent and expertise to the staff and patients in need.
“We are so happy to honor our wonderful friend, Councilman Bill Gulliford, as this year’s Beaches Healthy Hero. Not only has he advocated for healthcare to become a dedicated part of the annual City budget but he took a strong leadership position on our City’s tragic opioid crisis and created a model program that is saving lives daily at the beach and throughout the city,” said Cindy Funkhouser, President and CEO of Sulzbacher.
Gulliford was elected to the Jacksonville City Council in 2011 to represent District 13, which includes the beaches and the southeastern section of Duval County. In 2012, he was awarded the Charles D. Webb Award, for extraordinary commitment to public service, by out-going president Stephen Joost. The members of the City Council unanimously elected him to serve as President for the 2013/2014 Council Year. He received the Mary L. Singleton Award for 2014-2015.
In 1988 Gulliford was elected mayor of Atlantic Beach and served until 1993. Prior to that, he served on the Atlantic Beach city commission.
In addition to the award presentation, the evening’s festivities included heavy hors d’oeuvres, beverages, live music by Jimmy Beats band, a silent auction and more. All proceeds benefit the Sulzbacher Beaches Health Center, a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center for uninsured beaches residents.
